What is this engine?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 101
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From: Burrton, KS
What is this engine?
I think this is a 352, but I am not certain. It looks like it has "352" stamped below the head on the driver's side of the block. We know it has a '65 or '66 4 barrel intake and carb. This engine is currently in a '69 F-250, and has elctronic ignition that I am all but certain is not original. I have been told that it may be a later model 390, but it does not look like any 390 I have seen. What I am thinking is this is a '65 or '66 352 that has an aftermarket electroninc ignition installed. My dad has an old 352 from a '66 half ton setting behind the barn, and this does not have the same valve covers.
I am trying to figure this out now because the truck is not getting a good spark, and I am thinking about converting it back to points. I need to know what the engine is to do that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
Well, it's an FE! That's all about all your going to easily determine. The good news, just about any complete FE ignition should work, regardless of the actual year and displacement of the engine. I know Ford didn't put electronic ignition in trucks FEs until about 76 or so.
To determine the displacement you'll want to measure the stroke or identitify the crank.
One of the best solutions is teh Duraspark dizzy/setup fom the later FEs, like a 1976 360 or 390. They are supposed to be affordable and available at many local parts stores.
I wish I knew more about what is involved, but I went with a complete MSD system.
To determine the displacement you'll want to measure the stroke or identitify the crank.
One of the best solutions is teh Duraspark dizzy/setup fom the later FEs, like a 1976 360 or 390. They are supposed to be affordable and available at many local parts stores.
I wish I knew more about what is involved, but I went with a complete MSD system.
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
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From: CT
I think you right on the 65-66 timeframe as the heads have the thermactor bosses cast into them but not machined. Check the date code of the block and heads for the exact casting dates. The blocks date code is below the oil filter adapter. Head date codes are under the VC between the center 2 valve springs. Look for a number/letter/number(s) sequence....that's the date code. Measure the stroke by putting the engine on TDC and removing #1 & 4 plugs. Use a length of wood dowel using a common guide mark on both measurements. Insert in each plug hole and mark as noted. Measure the distance between the marks. 3.50" would be a 352 and 3.78" or roughly 3 3/4" a 390 stroke.
G.
G.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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75's and 76's came with the duraspark ignition system and you have the silver ignition box bolted onto the driver side inner fender sooo, i'd say somebody at least robbed that from a later year, perhaps when they swapped in the motor???? looks like the stroke test and date codes to be certain what you're dealing with...i have two of those duraspark ignition box thingys and haven't ad a bit of problems with either one of them.... could be a coil also...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: the side of a mountain
the 352 stamp means it was a later casting at MCC it doesnt mean that it is actually a 352, someone could have swapped in a 360 or a 390 by now. the 352 and 360 have the same stroke the only way to tell them apart is the bore. but as said before any of the FE ignition parts should work there unless all the date codes are similar and in an era when the 360 wasn't around yet.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
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From: Iowa
Actually, from what I understand, the mirror 105 blocks are the later MCC castings, and the "352" blocks are older ones from DIF.
There's absolutely no way to tell what it is, aside from measuring the bore and stroke. Casting numbers from the heads, block, and crank may prove informative though.
There's absolutely no way to tell what it is, aside from measuring the bore and stroke. Casting numbers from the heads, block, and crank may prove informative though.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: the side of a mountain
Originally Posted by rusty70f100
Actually, from what I understand, the mirror 105 blocks are the later MCC castings, and the "352" blocks are older ones from DIF.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Union, Washington
Well, since it has a 4 barrel and Duraspark I would bet money that it is an engine from the early to mid '70s, maybe 1968 or 1969 at the earliest. The breather cap on the drivers side marks it in that era also.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Everywhere, USA
I know the duraspark didn't come along until '75. It has a pretty bad looking amature wiring job so I am certain it has been added afterwords. If I'm understanding things corectly it could be the stock 360 that has had the ignition and 4 bbl added to it. I think I will try replacing the coil and see what that does.
By the way, this is my truck. Cory posted it for me because I wasn't feeling well last night.
By the way, this is my truck. Cory posted it for me because I wasn't feeling well last night.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 241
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From: Everywhere, USA
We have run the numbers from the carb and intake and know that they are from '65 or '66. That's the other reason I believe the motor to be a 352 from '65 or '66.
I tried a new coil and I'm still getting a very weak spark. My dad has an old 352 out of a 66 truck that he is going to pull the distributor from and see if it will fit. If it will and it's still good we will convert it back to points.
I tried a new coil and I'm still getting a very weak spark. My dad has an old 352 out of a 66 truck that he is going to pull the distributor from and see if it will fit. If it will and it's still good we will convert it back to points.